‘The business has been self-financing to date – the plan is to expand organically’
with the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations (FIBKA) security seal. Olly also supplies a small number of private customers with pork and Dexter beef from a couple of animals that he gets slaughtered by his local butcher once a year.
After being approached by Kilruddery Estate and Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow and Teelings Distillery, Dublin, Olly now keeps hives in each of their locations and supplied his honey to their gift shops.
“Things really took off for me and I couldn’t believe that I was being approached by these big businesses who wanted to stock my products,” he says.
Olly’s products have won many awards.
“In 2018 two of my products were awarded two stars in the Great Taste Awards in the UK. Then last year, and this year, my honey was awarded ‘Best Honey in Ireland’ from Dr & Dr John and Sally McKenna.”
Olly says honey production is hard work but rewarding.
“Each hive has to be checked weekly, which means I have to go to each location that I have a hive on. It takes a lot of time and work but I’m enjoying it.”
In demand:
Beekeeper and farmer Olly Nolan with some of his honey at his farm in Glenasmole, Co Dublin.
“I didn’t really incur any start-up costs. The land was a personal investment as it came with our house, so I already had it.
“I harvest all the honey on the farm too. The business has been self-financing to date, I use the money I make from sales to finance the business. My plan has always been to expand organically.
“I didn’t apply for any financing, but I know that the banks provide business loans for start-up businesses like this, and the local enterprise boards are very good at assisting people with financing options.”
“No planning was required.”
“No.”
What grant aid or other assistance was available? “The Department of Agriculture provides a 40pc excluding Vat grant for Investments in Horticulture and Beekeeping.
“To get the grant, you must create a business-plan-type document and submit it with your application.
“If your application is approved, you then get a specified period to make your purchase.
“You can’t make the purchase before you apply as the grant is not retrospective.
“The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) was also fantastic and was definitely my main source of assistance and advice. They run a lot of online classes and I’ve done a couple of them.
“I also got an Online Trading Voucher (TVO) from the LEO, which is basically a grant to develop your website. It’s 50pc of the full amount that you spend on setting it up, up to the value of €2,500.
What supports bodies/ agencies were available to help?
“Again, the LEO was the best help to me. The SuperValu
Food Academy was also excellent in getting my business off the ground. It gave me a great opportunity and fantastic training.”
Was insurance required? “I have bee insurance with the local Beekeepers’ Association.”
How did the business affect your tax dealings?
“It’s the same as any business really. I prepare everything for my accountant, I keep all my receipts and invoices and give them to the accountant each month for him to file at the end of the year.”
How much time was needed to get your farm off the ground?
“The development of my business was gradual. It took three to four years to get to where I am now. I’m now
Controlled growth:
at the point that I’m hoping to employ my first full-time employee things are going really well.”
Did you encounter any unexpected pitfalls or challenges?
“Thankfully, I haven’t encountered much in the way of pitfalls.
“Beekeeping in Ireland is challenging by nature, however: for example, the yield per hive in Ireland is only about a quarter of the yield of an eastern European hive.
“The honey season here is short in comparison to other countries because we live in a wet, cold climate.
“It can be disheartening as we are only getting about a quarter of the profit that beekeepers are getting in Eastern Europe, even though we put in the same amount of work.”
Olly Nolan has developed his beekeeping business gradually over three or four years and is about to bring in his first full-time employee.